"If you want the ultimate, you've got to be willing to pay the ultimate price. It's not tragic to die doing what you love."

Just like Patrick Swayze's character in the 1991 surfer bank-robber flick, Tennessee coach Lane Kiffinis loud and brash and wants to go out on the biggest wave he could find. He decided to call out the No. 1 team in the country, Florida.

A few weeks after accepting the job in December, Kiffin showed the common sense that made him so popular in his short time as Raiders coach and said he looked forward to "singing Rocky Top all night long after we beat Florida next year." Two months later, he accused Gators coach Urban Meyerof cheating while trying to lure a recruit.

Several Florida players sent Meyer text messages when that last bombshell hit, telling their coach to save timeouts for the end of this Saturday's game (Channel: 5 Channel: 13 Channel: 46 , 12:30 p.m.). The Gators have beaten the Vols by a combined 63 points the past two seasons and you get the sense they are trying to top that number Saturday.

Kiffin has since apologized and was in full damage-control mode this week. He said that Florida might be the most talented team "ever to play (college) football" - which is saying something because Kiffin was on the 2004 USC coaching staff. He also said that all 11 Gator defensive starters would be in the NFL someday.

As far as his earlier statements being posted all over the Florida locker room (they "hit a nerve," offensive lineman James Wilsontold the Jacksonville Times Union), Kiffin said he doesn't think motivation is a big factor at this level of college football.

"I don't know that that really works," Kiffin said in a conference call. "What works is when you recruit really good players and you coach really well, which they have, and when you have Tim Tebowand throw the ball to Percy Harvin and you hand it to (Jeff) Demps and (Chris) Rainey. That makes motivation work really well, when you recruit great players on defense and coach them as well as Charlie Strongdoes. That's how you haven't given up a touchdown all year."

Kiffin may be trying to convince himself, because Meyer and the Gators have shown they can hold a grudge. After Georgia emptied the sidelines to celebrate a touchdown on the field against Florida in 2007, the Gators came back to win 49-10 last season - and Meyer called two timeouts in the final minutes.

Kiffin, assuming he is not totally clueless, must have known what he was doing when he poked the Gators. He knew his quarterback, Jonathan Cromptonis terrible and there's a decent chance his team won't score Saturday. But he wanted to get Tennessee back in the headlines. He also knew that his team has to have Florida in its sights, if not realistically this year then next, and a spanking might give his players some pain to feed off.

"We know we're going to get there. It takes some time," said Kiffin, who hired an incredible staff with dad Monte as defensive coordinator and No. 5 Mississippi-architect Ed Oregeronas his lead recruiter. "We were here one month before signing day. We've had one signing class. We have to sign a class like we did last year and even better. If you do that for four years in a row, then you have a roster like they do."

Upset of the week?

When Steve Sarkisianleft his job as offensive coordinator at USC to become coach at Washington this year, Trojans coach Pete Carrollsmiled and wished him well. When Sarkisian brought USC defensive coordinator Nick Holtwith him, Carroll kind of gritted his teeth. "Often when you make changes, we get stronger," he said.

Holt later requested some film of his old USC defensive practices and Carroll turned him down.

Is it possible that, after losing 15 consecutive games, a well-educated Washington team could make it two wins in a row by shocking No. 3 USC (Channel: 7 Channel: 10 , 12:30 p.m.) in Seattle? Especially with the Trojans coming off a much-hyped win over Ohio State and quarterback Matt Barkleyquestionable with a bruised shoulder ... Naaaaah.

You gotta see this guy

Last week against Southeast Missouri, Cincinnati receiver Mardy Gilyardbecame the first player in four seasons to score on a punt return, run and reception (twice) in the same game. He is 6-foot-1, 187 pounds and the Bearcats move the senior all over the field, even lining him up at running back in their version of the wildcat offense (tight end Travis Kelce plays quarterback). Oregon State will have its hands full Saturday (3:45 p.m., CSNBA).

3 questions With Florida State coach Bobby Bowden

Q:Is your team looking for answers after losing to Miami and barely beating Jacksonville State?

A: I saw the answers (Saturday). Don't fumble the football. Don't get a penalty when you make a first down. When an interception's in your hands, catch it. When two of them are in your hands, catch two of them. When you (receive a punt), don't let it touch your foot, where they get it. Don't let them throw long touchdown passes. Don't make a 30- or 40-yard run to the goal line and then fumble. There's the answers.

Q:Was your team looking ahead to this week's game with No. 7 BYU?

A: It's hard not to. They're nationally ranked and their quarterback (Max Hall) can throw the heck out of the ball. You talk about threading it? Oh gosh, can he thread it. They're a typical BYU team - big guys that can protect the passer, good, solid receivers, two excellent tight ends and a good, solid defense.

Q:You warned your team, I'm sure, of a letdown last week ...

A: Yeah, but kids don't listen.

Now Playing:

Saturday's top TV games

5 p.m. No. 2 Texas vs. Texas Tech, Channel: 7 Channel: 10 : Michael Crabtree and the Red Raiders won 39-33 last season and cost the No. 1 Longhorns a shot at the Big 12 championship game and the national title. So Texas is just a little bit fired up. Plus, Texas Tech has given up 50.8 points a game its last five trips to Austin.

12:30 p.m. Arizona at Iowa, ESPN2: We like the under-the-radar Wildcats (2-0) as our upset of the week. The West gets to watch this game instead of No. 13 Virginia Tech vs. No. 19 Nebraska, the only matchup Saturday between ranked teams. So hit a sports bar to see the Cornhuskers, on the way back to the elite, try to break a nine-game losing streak to ranked teams.

3:45 p.m. No. 17 Cincinnati at Oregon St., CSNBA: Beavers running back Jacquizz Rodgerswants in on the Heisman talk. He ran for 166 yards and a touchdown (on 26 carries) and caught 10 passes for 65 yards in the win last week against UNLV.

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